Jasmin

JASMIN, zhas'ma'n', Jacques Boe, Pro vencal poet : b. 6 March 1798; d. 4 Oct. 1864. Of humble parentage, he became a wig-maker; but devoted all his leisure to reading and study. From his father he inherited a talent for the Composition of poems and songs in the Pro vençal tongue. His local poems, especially those composed for the carnival and the country fairs, became quite popular. In 1825 he pub lished 'Lou Chalibary,' a mock-heroic poem which found readers throughout the langue d'oc country. (1830), an ode of great power and beauty, made him famous throughout France and Provençal Spain. Then followed poems relating to the humble life from which he had sprung and filled with remembrances of the joys and sorrows of his childhood days, and like the minstrels of olden time he went about from village and town to village and town reciting his poems. (1835) contained the best of his poems up to that date. Other collections fol

lowed in 1842, 1851 and 1863. He was hailed by the Paris critics as a great poet. Of his longer poems, the best known, most popular and of greatest merit is (1842), a dramatic and touching story of thwarted love, in which village superstitions and prejudices are painted in a most vivid and realistic manner. Literary honors were showered upon him not only in the Provençal country but throughout France. Among those who publicly recog nized his genius were Louis-Philippe and the Duchesse d'Orleans. His poetical recitations brought out more people than the theatres and he was in demand everywhere for the inaugu ration of societies, the consecration of churches and similar functions; and always the funds taken in at these functions were devoted to charitable purposes.